Long Island is an island stretching eastward from New York City in the Metro New York region. The largely suburban area is approximately 115 miles long from Brooklyn and Queens at the western end, to Montauk at the easternmost point. At its widest the island is approximately 20 miles from north to south. While Long Island geographically includes Brooklyn and Queens, politically Long Island in general only includes Nassau County and Suffolk County of New York State only.

While Long Island is home to seven million year-round locals, many commuting in and out of New York City, the Island is home to a lot of discreet tourism (concentrated in certain towns—Huntington, Fire Island, Montauk) and also serves as the zip code for the vacation homes of many wealthy city dwellers, particularly in the Hamptons.

Other destinations

Understand

From a tourist's point of view, Long Island is most ideal to visit in the summer and the fall when the scenery can be most appreciated. Long Island is great place to visit whether it be for a family vacation, a group of 20-somethings looking to rent a summer house, or an older retired couple looking to enjoy some natural sight-seeing or tour a museum.

Nassau County and Western Suffolk County is very developed and densely populated, and is home more to the 'suburbia' type neighborhoods Long Island became famous for after World War II, where most year-round residents live. (i.e. Levittown, Oceanside). Central and Eastern Suffolk County, however, is somewhat rural (for the New York area, anyway) and is home to much agriculture, wineries, and beach towns. Many summer homes and hotels are located here, and is where most wealthy New Yorkers congregate in the summer months when the concrete jungle is too hot to bear. Tourist attractions can be found equally in both counties and throughout the entire Island.

Long Island's only downside to tourism is harsh north-eastern winters that make traveling somewhat difficult, and the fact that it is an expensive place to both live as a permanent resident and also as a tourist. There are towns that are more friendly to the wallet than the notoriously expensive Hamptons, or "Gold Coast" North Shore towns, however, Long Island is home to some of the most expensive zip codes in the entire world. Do not expect a bargain vacation when traveling to Long Island, or anywhere in the New York Metropolitan area for that matter.

Tourist Information

The Long Island Conventions & Visitors Bureau [2] provides information about Long Island and the places to visit.

Get in

By plane

MacArthur Airport (IATA: ISP) in Islip is a convenient regional airport centrally located on Long Island. The primary carrier flying in and out of this airport is the low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK), [3] is convenient because the AirTrain connects JFK's monorail system to the LIRR at Jamaica or Howard Beach Stations for only $5.

Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR), [5] is located to the west of the Island (and New York City) in the state of New Jersey.

By train

The Long Island Railroad [6] runs from Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan to various points on Long Island on many branches. Service is not as frequent as the NYC subways. Take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station to Long Beach ($8.25 one way during off-peak hours) and from there go south to the beach itself.

By boat

There are several ferry services that can be found on Long Island.

Ferry Services to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Block Island

The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company service for passengers, cars and trucks. Children ride for free! Contact: 1-888-44FERRY.

Cross Sound Ferry service for passengers and cars. Contact: 860-443-5281.

Viking Fleet Ferry is for passengers only and bicycles are accommodated. Contact: 631-668-5700.

Ferry Services to Shelter Island

North Ferry Company is available year-round and allows passengers, cars and trucks. Contact: 516-749-0139

South Ferry, Inc. is also available year-round and allows passengers, cars and trucks. Contact: 516-749-1200.

Ferry Services to Fire Island

Davis Park Ferry Co. Inc. does not allow vehicles and is available from March to September. Contact: 516-475-1665.

Sayville Ferry Service does not allow vehicles and is available April to November. Contact: 516-589-0810.

Sunken Forest Ferry Service does not allow vehicles and is available May to October. Contact: 516-589-0810.

By car

There are many controlled-access highways that run through New York City from Connecticut and New Jersey. It is advisable, however, to travel on routes that do not cross Manhattan Island (where traffic is perpetually horrendous). From New Jersey, I-278 runs across Staten Island to Brooklyn where major roads (including Route 27 and the LIE) can be reached. From Connecticut, take I-95 South to I-295 and the Throgs Neck Bridge. Once into Queens, nearly every major thoroughfare is encountered while still heading south on I-278.

A convenient way to bypass most traffic is to take a car ferry from either Bridgeport, CT to Port Jefferson (on the North Shore in the center of Suffolk County) [7] or New London, CT to Orient Point (on the North Fork). [8] However, always check the ferry schedules while they do not operate overnight.

The Southern State Parkway (SSP) runs from East Islip to Queens where it becomes the Belt Parkway. The SSP is a very busy thoroughfare during rush hours and connects most of Nassau to each other. The Northern State Parkway connects Queens with the Grand Central Parkway. The Long Island Expressway (I-495), or The LIE is billed as the world's longest parking lot, especially during peak rush hours. The LIE connects Manhattan to Riverhead. Sunrise Highway, or NY-27, as a divided highway goes from Queens along the south shore of Nassau County, becoming an expressway in Babylon, back to a divided highway in Suffolk County and ending at the east end of the island in Montauk.

When traveling along the North Shore, you may take the scenic and relaxing route of 25-A, a single lane road that runs through historic, wealthy towns on the northern shore.

Get around

Please understand that Long Island is a very large island. At 118 miles in length, it can take hours to travel from one destination to another, especially during morning and afternoon rush hour when the main roads suffer from high congestion and the trains are crowded.

By bus

There are two main bus operators on Long Island: Nassau Inter-County Express (the former Long Island Bus) in Nassau and Suffolk County Transit in Suffolk. Each maintain extensive bus networks throughout their counties. For schedules, fares and route maps for NICE, visit their website: [9]. For the same for Suffolk Transit, visit their website: [10]

By train

The Long Island Rail Road crosses the entire island, with stops in virtually every community of note. Please not that it is designed to take residents into and out of Manhattan, so connections between branches are virtually nonexistent. However, with the exception of the Port Washington line, every branch does come into Jamaica station in Queens, so if you do need to change branches, Jamaica is where you will likely do it.

The Port Jefferson branch goes all the way out to Port Jefferson on the north shore in Suffolk County. The Ronkonkoma branch goes to Greenport on the north fork. The Montauk branch goes to its namesake hamlet on the tip of the south fork. The Hempstead and West Hempstead branches go into the heart of Nassau County. The Far Rockaway and Long Beach branches carry beach goers from the city to the popular beaches on the south shore.

By car

In addition to highways getting into Long Island, there are more to get around:

The Long Island Expressway (the L.I.E.) has the high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes in both directions in Nassau and western Suffolk Counties. From 6 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 8 pm from Monday to Friday, it can save time for motorcycles (even without passengers) and cars with at least two occupants.

It is extremely recommended that you use an HOV lane if possible! Traffic jams can last for hours and disrupt travel plans. Just make sure that you know what exit you will get off at. There are only certain points at which you can get out of the HOV [12] lane.

The Meadowbrook Parkway runs from Jones Beach, through Long Beach connecting the South Shore towns to Mineola and The Northern Parkway.

See

The primary tourist attractions are the large number of excellent beaches along Long Island Sound on the North Shore (the setting of the famous novel and movie "The Great Gatsby", and the more famous South Shore, which is home to the Atlantic Ocean's waves and white-sand beaches.

The North Fork is also home to many wineries, farms and culinary outlets.

Other attractions include North Shore harbor towns such as Port Jefferson, Huntington Village, Stony Brook and Northport where a variety of eateries and small businesses thrive in a bohemian atmosphere.

Take a day trip on the Hampton Jitney

Long Island Wine Country on the North Fork

The Hamptons on the South Fork.

Long Island has some great villages, like Great Neck and Huntington where you can just wander around and see cute little stores and take in nice views.

Port Washington has a beautiful bay with a public park where you can see all the boats and the water.

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Museums

Long Island Museum of American Art, History, & Carriages, [13]. Located in Stony Brook at 1200 Route 25A. Has merican history and art with a Long Island connection. Art collections contain more than 4000 paintings, sculptures and prints dating from the early 1800s to the present. Also presents a Carriage Museum with a collection of more than 200 horse-drawn carriages.

Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, [14]. Located in Riverhead at the end of the Long Island Expressway. Has stingray and shark petting, large tank with sharks, moray eel, turtles and manta rays, outdoor exhibits including emus and tortoises. Many conservation efforts.

Sagamore Hill, [15]. It is the summer-home of President Theodore Roosevelt. Includes tours, a museum, and a visitor center. It is run by the National Park Service. House currently under renovation however museum is open.

The Hicksville Gregory Museum, [16]. has hundreds of scientific specimens.

The Cradle of Aviation, [17]. a museum about airplanes and the history of aviation.

Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, [18]. has Native American artifacts.

Wantagh Museum, [20]. the Wantagh Museum features three structures, The Station (built in 1885), The "Jamaica" Railroad Car (built in 1912 for the Long Island Rail Road) and the Original Wantagh Post Office (built in 1907).

Old Bethpage Village Restoration. has a farm as well as houses and businesses from the early-to-mid 1800's.

The Village of Roslyn. a historic town located on Hempstead Harbor on the North Shore. Homes date from the 17th Century.

Sagtikos Manor, Montauk Highway and Manor Lane, West Bay Shore (Robert Moses Causeway Exit RM2E Bay Shore. Turn right onto Rt 27A and continue east approx. 1/2 mile. Entrance on left.), ☎631-854-0939, [21]. Memorial Day, 1-3:30PM (last tour) June, Saturday & Sundays 1-3:30PM, July & August, Thursday,Friday,Saturday and Sunday 1-3:30PM. built in 1697, served briefly as headquarters for the British army during the Revolutionary War. President George Washington stayed there during his tour of Long Island in 1790. Take a tour of period rooms through the Manor House led by costumed docents and stroll through the grounds and nearby Gardiner County Park. , .

Vanderbilt Museum.

Oheka Castle, Huntington.

Amityville Horror House, 108 Ocean Avenue, Amityville. One of the most famous homes in the world, in the sleepy seaside town of Amityville. In 1976, the Lutz family fled the large Dutch Colonial home, claiming to have been terrorized by a 'paranormal phenomena'

Learn

Long Island is also the home to Stony Brook University, one of the top-100 Universities (US News and World Report), which is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, providing a very academic and international community within central Long Island. Brookhaven National Laboratory, affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is also located on Long Island. Both labs are affiliated with Stony Brook University.

The Americana Mall, Northern Boulevard in Manhasset.. Some of the richest people on the island shop in this stretch of conspicuous consumption, beautiful store layouts, and mind-boggling prices.

Eat

Long Island is a lot like New Jersey and parts of Connecticut in as much as a there are a lot of 24 hour diners that serve pretty much anything whenever. Young people congregate in these diners at odd hours, and they can be found spread out on the major roads like Jericho Turnpike or Sunrise Highway. There are also many seafood restaurants (especially with local clams and mussels-local Long Island specialty foods). Because there are so many local restauraunts, (many Zagat rated), with influence from European families and the nearby international cuisine of New York City, a Long Islander wouldn't recommend to eat at a chain restaurant that could be found anywhere such as Applebee's, the Olive Garden or Red Lobster. They are of course readily available on Long Island, but it is really a shame to not try privatley owned eateries that are equally priced but more distinct than the chain restaurants. Try one of the following:

Peter Luger's Steakhouse est. 1887 in Brooklyn is one of the best steakhouses in New York [24]

Bulldog in Amityville is an excellent place for burgers

The restaurant at the Jedediah Hawkins House[25] in Jamesport is really good and in a beautiful setting.

The really amazing New York restaurant, Il Mulino, has a location in Roslyn.

Mama's in Copiague has some of the best Italian food

Kitchen Kabaret in East Hills (Roslyn), while not the best ambiance for a restaurant, has great food to take out. Very popular for rich kids getting lunch and upscale north shore catering.

The Cider Mill in Laurel on Route 25 has the best pies.

All-American Drive-in in Masssapequa has the great hamburgers.

Tennessee Jed's[26] is an old fashioned family-owned BBQ restaurant in Wantagh.

Bobbique in Patchogue has fantastic real pit barbecue and lots of great beers on tap. Not for vegetarians.

The Milleridge Inn in Jericho is a rustic eatery perfect for dinner or classy lunch.

Briemier Pies in Riverhead- people travel from the city to eat one of these delicious pies- you wonder what is in them that makes them so addicting!

The Kitchen, a Bistro, in Saint James- voted the best restaurant on Long Island of 2009. French Mediterranean cuisine using local Long Island ingredients.

The sister eatery, The Kitchen, a Trattoria, offers light, rustic Italian cusine. Also located in Saint James, this is a bit different than New York Style Italian that leaves you feeling like a huge salami about to roll out the door- this is the real deal. Light, delicious non-Americanized Italian food that you would find at a trattoria in Italy.

Many major fast food chains and chain casual dining restaurants have locations on Long Island.

Be sure to visit a local farmstand, especially those out east and on the North Fork. Local produce and farming is a major industry on Long Island.

Drink

The well known cocktail, the Long Island Iced Tea, was first created on Long Island. One of the most celebrated local beers is called Blue Point [27], named for the town of the same name.

Drinking on Long Island is tough because you need a car to get around, with this in mind, use the Long Island Railroad to your advantage. Take it from town to town, or take a night out to go into the City. At night, there is little public transportation besides LIRR, but there are taxis. The South Shore in Nassau County has some good bars, (with a somewhat rowdy crowd, however).

On the North Shore you will find a buzzing college-bar scene year-round, mostly for those college students and other 20-somethings looking for a night out that doesn't involve a dorm party, frat or sorority or an expensive trip to NYC. The most popular towns for this kind of bar-scene are Huntington Village, Port Jefferson, (both along Route 25-A) and recently Smithtown along Jericho Turnpike/Route 25, which has developed as an up and coming bar scene by night despite their charming shopping and family-oritented atmospheres by day.

Montauk and Fire Island, which are very much touristy beach towns, are home to many bars—what else is there to do on a warm summer's night?!

Stay safe

Be smart, don't travel to towns with a lot of crime at night. These towns include: Roosevelt, Hempstead, North Amityville, North Baldwin, Wyandanch, Rosedale, North Bay Shore, Central Islip, New Cassel, Brentwood, Uniondale and northern Freeport. In the daytime, these areas are generally safe.

Other than those towns, which most locals could tell you is where most of the dangerous crime occurs, crime on the rest of Long Island is related to drug-arrests and burglarlies of high-end neighborhoods.
Most robberies are related to hired help, and are low-profile crimes. However, the most recent epidemic crime problem has been the increase in heroin use among Long Island teens, particularly of wealthier neighborhoods along the North Shore. Generally, this should not be a problem for a tourist.

Cope

The daily, Island-wide newspaper is Newsday, which also provides a detailed history of the island. [28].

News 12 on Cable TV (Cablevision) also covers local news.

Consulate

Get out

One of the biggest safety hazards Long Islanders face when preparing for natural disasters such as hurricanes is the lack of ways to get off the Island. There really is only one immediate way out via car- through the highly congested bridges of New York City. You may also exit via Ferry to New England, or fly out of one of the three major airports. (One on LI, 2 in NYC)

You may leave Long Island to go on day trips to any borough of New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey, upstate New York (another great place to visit)...however, there are so many day trips that can be spent on the Island itself with it's many unique towns and other nooks and crannies, that it is advised by locals to plan on staying on Long Island if you plan a trip here and seep into local life as much as possible. It is very common for Long Islanders to never leave the Island during summer vacations because there is so much to do in the summer even for locals. The Island itself is large, and one can live on Long Island their entire life and still find something new to do or explore on the very same island each summer. On Long Island, there is no manufactured fun. It is all about exploring the communities and natural scenery for what they are to year-round residents. Long Island is not built for tourists like Florida's Disneyworld might be, however, ironically, that makes for the best kind of tourism.

This is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!